Palmdale 10th in US for biggest increase in high-income households

Palmdale had the nation’s 10th biggest increase in households earning at least $200,000, according the latest full-year data available in a new report from SmartAsset.com.

The data, drawn from a US Census Bureau survey of 345 cities with a population of 100,000 or more, includes the percentage increase in households earning $200,000 or more annually and the number of high-income households added.

The report shows Palmdale, a city in north Los Angeles County known for its aerospace history, added 3,306 high-income households between 2021 and 2022 — a 119.4% increase. Broken down, that meant 13.6% of the city’s households were earning $200,000 or more annually, more than double the 6.2% reported in 2021.

Spokane, Wash., Allentown, Pa., and others topped SmartAsset’s list. These Southern California cities still ranked high out of 345 cities:

13. El Monte – 93.3% increase and 879 high-income households added. That bumped its percentage of total households in the city to 5.8% compared to 3% in 2021.

15. East Los Angeles – 87% gain and 612 additional high-income households. That increased its percentage to 4.3% in 2022 from 2.3% the previous year.

22. Garden Grove – 76.1% increase with 3,338 high-income households added. That boosted its percentage of the city’s total to 15.5% in 2022 from 8.8% in 2021.

23. Moreno Valley – 73.3% increase with 2,423 high-income households added. That increased its percentage of total households in the city to 10.4% in 2022 from 6% in 2021.

27. Corona – 69.4% increase with 3,231 high-income households added. That increased its percentage to 18.3% in 2022 from 10.8% in 2021.

44. Fontana – 53% increase with 2,451 high-income households added. That increased its percentage of the city’s total households to 12.4% in 2022 from 8.1% in 2021.

So which cities saw the biggest gains in high-income households? Here are the top 10 in order:

1. Spokane, Wash. – 183.3% increase with 1,510 high-income households added. That bumped its percentage of the city’s total to 5.1% in 2022 from 1.8% the previous year.

2. Allentown, Pa. – 163.6% increase and 830 high-income households added. Its percentage of the city’s total housing rose to 2.9% in 2022 from 1.1% the previous year.

3. Evansville, Ind. – 150% increase with 816 high-income households added. That bumped its percentage of the city’s overall housing to 2.5% in 2022 from 1% the previous year

4. Killeen, Texas – 146.2% increase with 1,197 high-income households added. Its percentage jumped to 3.2% in 2022 from 1.3% the previous year.

5. San Tan Valley, Arizona – 143.9% increase with 2,344 high-income households added. Its percentage of overall housing rose to 10% in 2022 from 4.1% the previous year.

6. Springfield, Mass. – 141.7% increase with 2,103 high-income households added. Its percentage of overall housing rose to 5.8% in 2022 from 2.4% the previous year.

7. New Haven, Conn. – 136.4% increase with 3,362 high-income households added. The percentage jumped to 10.4% in 2022 from 4.4% the previous year.

8. Manchester, N.H. – 134.1% increase with 2,620 high-income households added. Its percentage rose to 9.6% in 2022 from 4.1% the previous year.

9. Jackson, Miss. – 125% increase with 1,554 high-income households added. Its percentage increased to 4.5% in 2022 from 2% the previous year.

10. Palmdale – 119.4% increase with 3,306 high-income households added. Its percentage increased to 13.6% in 2022 from 6.2% the previous year.